Distending-spring for leggins



(No Model.) I E. B. STIMPSON.

I DISTBNDING SPRING FOR LEGGINS.

No. 505,906. Patented Oct. 3, 1893.

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EDWIN B. STIMPSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DISTENDING-SPRING FORLEGGINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,906, dated October3, 1893.

Application filed December 2, 1891- Serial No. $13,845. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN B. STIMPsoN, of Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Distending-Springs for Wearing-Apparel, of which the following, is aspecification.

My invention relates to an improvement in distending springs for wearingapparel and more particularly to springs for holding a protectin garticle, such for example as leggins, in shape, and preventing them fromcollapsing and injuring the free circulation of blood through the partsof the body about which they are worn.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings in Figure 1 is an edge view of the springshowingits ends fastened together. Fig. 2 is aface View of the same.Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the fastening and Fig. 4 is atransverse View through the fastening on line 0c 00 of Fig. 2.

The spring consists of aspring metal band having oneof its ends providedwith a tongue and the other end with a recess or guide way for thereception of the tongue of the opposite member, the tongue end carryinga spring actuated swinging link adapted to engage the recessed end andlock the ends together. The tongue and spring at one end and recess orguide at the other end are preferably formed integral with the bodyportion of the spring and the link is formed separately and securedpermanently to the tongue end.

The body portion of the spring is denoted by A. At one end there isformed a projecting tongue B the sides bof which extend outwardly orforwardly from the surface of the body portion and the outer face I) ofwhich is preferably formed concave in cross section. An actuating springis formed by partially severing a portion 0 of the face I) of the tongueB and forcing its free end to assume a normal position below the faceI). The opposite end of the body A is provided with a recess or guideway D for the reception of the tongue B, the sides 02 of said guide wayextending outwardly from the surface of the spring and its face d beingformed concave in cross section to conform to the face I) of the tongue.The outer face of the guide way D is provided with aseries of notches dalong its edges for the reception of the lockinglink E.

The lockinglink E is'of ageneral U shaped form, the branches beinginserted down through perforationslfiin the tongue end of the spring,and thence turned obliquelytoward the under face of the spring O andcaused to bear against it so that the tension of the spring 0 tends topress the bight e of the link down into position to engage the notches01 A projection e on the end of the link E serves to receive the end ofthe finger to lift the link out of engagement with the notches andthereby release the ends of the spring.

The normal tension of the spring band A is preferably such as to hold itpartially straightened and its ends separated.

The concave face of the guide way serves to admit the finger under theprojection e on the link without catching in the notches d and the linkis required to project beyond the face of the fastening only a slightdistance, affording little or no opportunity for catching in adjacentfabrics and presenting a compact and neat appearance.

The entire distending spring and its fastening may be formed of but twopieces and may be adjusted within the limits of the series of notches dI What I claim is 1. A spring band which tends, normally, to

expand, having its ends provided, the one with a guide way extendingback from its end lengthwise of the band, and the other, with a tongueadapted to slide along within said guide way, and a swinging springactuated link mounted in the end of the band carrying the tongue andadapted to engage notches in the upper face of the guide way carried bythe other end of the band, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a spring band, of a fastening device for theends of the same, said fastening device comprising two interlockingsections, the one provided witha guide way having a concave or depressedouter face, as described, and rows of notches along its respectiveedges, the other provided with a tongue adapted to slide within saidguide way and having an actuating spring formed on the inner face ofsame, and alocking link extendand a link having its sides extendedthrough the tongue end of the band into engagement with the actuatingspring, and its bight or outer end constructed to engage the notches inthe face of the guide way, substantially as set forth.

ED WIN B. S'IIMPSON.

VV itnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, I. B. DECKER.

